NEW YORK(November 9, 2010) – Major League Soccer will hold its first Re-Entry Draft process on December 8 and 15, 2010. As part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, MLS players who meet certain criteria are eligible to be made available to all teams after the season.

“This process grants new rights to our players,” said MLS Executive Vice President Todd Durbin. “It ensures that players receive fair and timely offers after each season and provides clubs with another opportunity to strengthen their rosters. It will also generate off-season excitement as fans can follow the player movement and draft to see how their clubs will be impacted.”

The priority order for the Re-Entry Draft is reverse order of finish in 2010, taking into account playoff performance.

Available to all teams in Stage 1 of the Re-Entry draft on December 8 will be:

Players who are at least 23 years old and have a minimum of three years experience in MLS whose options were not exercised by their clubs (available at option salary for 2011).

Players who are at least 25 years old with a minimum of four years of MLS experience who are out of contract and whose club does not wish to re-sign them at their previous salary (available at 2010 salary).

Players who are at least 30 years old with a minimum of eight years of MLS experience who are out of contract and whose club does not wish to re-sign them (available for at least 105% of their 2010 salary).

Players who are not selected in Stage 1 of the Re-Entry Draft will be made available in Stage 2 on December 15. Clubs selecting players in Stage 2 will negotiate a new salary with the player.

Players who remain unselected after Stage 2 will be available to any MLS club on a first come, first serve basis.

At MLSsoccer.com, a complete outline of the Re-Entry Draft rules can be found along with a story about the process with comments from MLS Executive Vice President Todd Durbin.

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